Iran eyes new nuke plants

August 19, 2008 9:00am

Iran is preparing to build new nuclear power plants.

The Islamic Republic’s state-owned nuclear energy production company signed agreements Tuesday with six Iranian companies to find sites for the new plants, according to the country’s official news agency IRNA.

Iran’s first nuclear power plant, which is being built with Russian help, is expected to be operational later this year.

The announcement that Iran is planning at least six new nuclear power plants comes as the United Nations prepares to levy a new set of sanctions on Iran over its refusal to discontinue uranium enrichment, which could lead to the production of an atomic bomb.